—
Ben and I stroll throughthe winter market in the town square a couple of days later. The ground is blanketed in snow, but none of it encroaches onto the paths snaking between the stalls, making it easy to stroll hand in hand from booth to booth. We sip on hot chocolate and say hi to everyone we encounter. It’s another fairy-tale-esque winter day.
We’re making our final loop around the town square when we pause to admire the giant tree that’s the centerpiece of the town’s holiday decorations. The tree towersabove the buildings, blanketed in lights and swathed in ornaments that each bear some sort of tie to Heart Springs. There’s a whisk and a mixing bowl for Emma’s bakery, a stack of books for the bookstore. One of the favorite pastimes of the holiday season in Heart Springs is everyone finding the ornament that represents them.
I haven’t been able to locate mine yet, but Ben assures me it’s there somewhere. We found Ben’s easily the first day the tree went up. It’s a red heart shaped by the handprints of all his patients and the kids who benefitted from his carnival event. It’s basically the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, and I hate it a little more each time we see it. Not because he doesn’t deserve it or hasn’t earned it, but because he’s clearly so loved by everyone in this town, and despite the strides I have made, despite the acceptance I’ve felt recently, I still am not.
“Dr. Loving!” a voice calls across the square just as we’re about to head home.
We both stop and turn, and my blood chills a little when I see the absolutely drop-dead gorgeous woman waving to Ben from the other side of the tree.
I would say I try not to let the jealousy overtake me, but that would be a lie.
The woman jogs over to us, a wide smile on her face like she doesn’t know I’m silently planning her murder.
“Taylor, have you met my girlfriend Cam?” Ben asks the second she lands in front of us. Damn, this guy is smart.
She turns to me without dropping her smile, no hint of malice anywhere on her perfect face. “I haven’t, but that’s actually the reason why I stopped you. I wanted to talk to you, Cam.”
“Oh?” I manage to keep the hostility from my voice, which Taylor is making easy with her warm smile and the way she doesn’t even look at Ben after he introduces me.
“I heard what you did for Anna and for the bakery, and I was wondering if I would maybe be able to hire you to represent me?” The hope is clear in her bright blue eyes, and I hate to be the one to dash it.
“I’m sorry, Taylor, but I’m not actually a practicing attorney anymore. Those were sort of one-off occasions.”
Taylor clasps her hands together, making her look like an actual Disney princess. “Oh please, Cam. I really need your help. My ex-boyfriend is claiming that he gave me the idea for the business I own and trying to get me to buy him out when the man never spent a single cent or lifted a single finger to help me start it.”
“Have you talked to Noah Crenshaw?”
Her face hardens. “That’s the jerk who’s representing him.”
I do my best to morph my face into a sympathetic smile. “I really wish I could help, Taylor.” And I do. Her ex sounds like a total dick. “But I don’t think I have the time to take on anything else right now.”
Ben nudges me. “Your case with Anna is done, and Emma already hired the extra help for the bakery.”
“I’m aware.” I glare at him, wondering if he’s being swayed by Taylor’s pretty face.
“Give us a second.” He shoots Taylor an apologetic look and pulls me off to the side. “What’s with the excuses, sweetheart? You can try to hide it if you want, but I know how much you enjoyed working with Anna. Why not take on Taylor’s case and help her stick it to the man?”
“Don’t you think we’ve pushed our luck enough, Ben?” I whisper the words fiercely, making sure my voice is low enough so no one can overhear us. “Mimi made it very clear to me that lawyering is not a career option. I don’t think I should be breaking any more rules.”
His eyes soften and he reaches out to tug gently on a strand of my hair. “I think you should do what makes you happy, Cam. Fuck the rules.”
I tap my foot impatiently as I mull it over, not sure which is swaying me more, Taylor or Ben using the wordfuck. Looking back at Taylor, who’s watching the two of us with a hopeful expression on her face, I sigh. “I guess there’s no real harm in taking a look at what she’s got.”
Ben grins and before I can say another word, Taylor is back at my side, throwing her arms around me.
I’d like to say I’ve become accustomed to the hugs, but this one still catches me off guard. “No promises.” I lace my words with serious warning.
She holds up her hands and begins walking away from us, like she wants to escape before I change my mind. “Understood. I’ll come find you at the bakery on Monday and we can talk more!”
Taylor darts off into the crowd, though she leaves a trail of squealing in her wake that makes me think she did not take my warning all that seriously.
Ben’s smile is triumphant and a little smug as we start our short walk home.
“You’re the worst,” I tell him as he pushes open the front door to my house.
“You know you love me.”
